Bird Sightings

The Audubon Society has reported a variety of recent bird sightings in western Massachusetts.

Many reports were received this week of eastern phoebes, tree swallows, swamp sparrows and fox sparrows in the region. Large numbers of Canada geese, common mergansers and ring-necked ducks are also moving through the region. Also reported were double-crested cormorants, northern pintails, American wigeons, green-winged teal, buffleheads, pied-billed grebes, black vultures, ospreys, broad-winged hawks, peregrine falcons, Wilson’s snipe, chipping sparrows, white-crowned sparrows and large flocks of common redpolls.

One or two white-fronted geese, as well as two cackling geese, are still being seen at the campus pond at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and also on Tri-town Pond in Whately and the power canal at the Turners Falls dam.

An American coot, a northern shoveler and three blue-winged teal were seen in Longmeadow.

A northern shrike was found in Northfield, and single red-breasted mergansers were seen in Northampton and Turners Falls. A ruddy duck was also seen in Turners Falls.

Two gadwall and a northern saw-whet owl were reported in New Salem, and a greater scaup was seen in Southwick.

Two gadwall and a rusty blackbird were found in Quabbin Park at the Quabbin Reservoir, and a Bonaparte’s gull flew over Amherst.